2012 gmc yukon Model Overview

The 2012 GMC Yukon comes in standard and XL length, which is 20 inches longer. It’s an evolution of the full-size two-door Jimmy. The four-door Yukon gained popularity during the 1990s SUV craze as a slightly cheaper and smaller alternative to the Suburban (now Yukon XL). It can carry up to nine passengers in three rows (one more than the Yukon XL with its front bucket seat only configuration), but cargo capacity is much less than the Yukon XL. Cargo room increases significantly when only the first- and second-row are present. Denali models offer near Cadillac Escalade luxury with a much lower base price and less in-your-face styling.

Three engines are available for the body-on-frame 2012 Yukon SUV and all come from GM’s small-block Vortec V-8 engine family. The 320-horsepower 5.3-liter V-8 is exclusively fitted to a six-speed automatic transmission. Rear-drive models have an iron block with aluminum heads and four-wheel-drive models come with an all-aluminum version which is optional on rear-wheel-drive models. Denali models are powered by the same 403-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 as the Cadillac Escalade. The hybrid model combines a 6.0-liter V-8 with GM’s two-mode hybrid system. A new Yukon is expected around the 2014 model year.

Bodystyle: SUV

Engines: 5.3L V-8, 6.0L V-8 with hybrid electric motor, 6.2L V-8

Transmission: 6-speed automatic, 4-speed two-mode hybrid automatic

Models: SLE, SLT, Denali, Hybrid

Not many changes to the 2012 Yukon. It gains an 80 gigabyte hard drive for its optional touch-screen navigation system. Thirty of those gigs can be used to record or time-shift content from the radio. StabiliTrak electronic stability control now includes trailer sway control and hill-start assist. Heated steering wheel is now offered on SLT models to complement the standard heated leather seats. Recovery hooks are now standard on all models. Denali models gain side blind zone alert standard. An SLE appearance package is standard. Two new colors join the paint palette: Crystal Red Tintcoat and Quicksilver Metallic.

The Yukon is a large SUV–only dwarfed by the XL model, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Ford Expedition EL. It rides on a 116-inch wheel base and is 202 inches long overall which gives it a 14-inch shorter wheelbase, and 20 inches less overall length than the Yukon XL. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard SLE and SLT; 20-inch chrome or polished aluminum wheels are optional. Denali models get unique 20-inch polished aluminum wheels. An SLE appearance package is standard for 2012. Denali models gain side blind zone alert standard. Last year it gained two new paint colors: Crystal Red Tintcoat and Quicksilver Metallic.

The Yukon offers plenty of space for passengers but its shorter length reduces its cargo capacity compared to the 22-inch longer Yukon XL. With the third-row removed the Yukon has plenty of room for five passengers and their gear. An 80-gigabyte hard drive for its optional touch-screen navigation system is new for 2012. Front seats are bucket, but a 40/20/40 split-bench seat is optional on SLE. Gauges feature LED backlighting with chrome accents that can also be found on the vents. A power-release fold-and-tumble second row seat, remote start, tri-zone automatic climate control, first- and second-row heated seats, and ultrasonic rear parking assist with rearview camera are available. A rear seat DVD entertainment system with eight-inch screen is optional on all trim levels.

The Yukon offers a refined ride quality and decent handling for such a large body-on-frame SUV. It also has good steering feel and feedback. Yukons can be had with an iron-block or all-aluminum 5.3-liter V-8. Both engines are rated for 320 horsepower and 335 lb-ft of torque. The 5.3-liter returns the same fuel economy fitted with either two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The Yukon’s lighter weight and shorter size makes it more fuel efficient and more maneuverable than the larger Yukon XL. Denali models are powered by the same 403-horsepower 6.2-liter V-8 as the Cadillac Escalade. The 6.2-liter’s 417 lb-ft of torque can tow up to 8300 pounds in rear-drive configuration; All-wheel-drive versions can tow up to 8100 pounds. Hybrid models can tow a maximum of 6200 pounds.

The Yukon comes with StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover mitigation standard to help reduce the risk of a rollover. In the event of a rollover the roof-mounted head curtain airbags stay inflated longer to protect occupants until the vehicle comes to a stop. It also comes with driver and front passenger airbags. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and safety belt pretensioners with rear-impact deploy capability are standard. An Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist and backup camera are optional and help reduce smacking into things while backing up. Blind spot alert is also available.

2012 GMC Yukon Pricing

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

$40,085

Certified Pre Owned Pricewhat is this?

$23,375

Certified Pre-Owned Price is the approximate price a consumer can expect to pay at a dealership for a used vehicle that has passed the manufacturer's certification process. This price applies only to vehicles covered under an automaker's CPO program, not to a dealership's own "certified" used price.

Recalls

Recall ID#14V827000 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

Consequence

If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.

2012 GMC Yukon News and Reviews

General Motors will add about 800 workers to the Arlington, Tex. production lines that make full-size SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and GMC Yukon.It’s been a good year so far for the Arlington plant: even with the price of gas fairly high, sales of full-size GM SUVs like the Suburban and Escalade have been brisk, and…

Fun fact: the first truck to bear the GMC emblem was shown at the New York Auto Show in 1912 (pictured below). To celebrate that fact -- and the fact that 2012 marks GMC's centennial -- the brand is rolling out special-edition versions of the 2012 Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL at the 2012 New York Auto Show next week.The new…

Room for up to nine passengers and the capability -- and space -- to haul their cargo, be it overnight bags or a camper trailer. That's the GMC Yukon and Yukon XL family of full-size SUVs for 2012.2012 GMC Yukon Denali 2012 GMC Yukon XL Denali

In what could be the most elaborate pit crew job interview ever, Police have announced that thieves in Texas have made off with 140 wheels and tires from 35 cars. A crew of thieves in the Dallas suburb of Rockwall made off with the wheels and tires from GMC Sierras and Yukons from Heritage Buick GMC on Saturday night.The owner…

In commemoration of the nation's 235th anniversary, we've compiled a list of our staff's most-wanted vehicles, organized by class. Our criteria were simple: Any American-branded vehicle (regardless of origin or place of assembly) was eligible.With cars such as the American-built Toyota Camry boasting up to 80-percent domestic parts content, and "domestic" models such as Motor Trend's 2010 Car of the…